BMW 2002 Annual Report Download - page 20

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over 94% of employees have a very strong identifi-
cation with the BMW Group and
its products. This
survey, performed every two years, forms the basis
of a continual improvement process. The objective
is to strengthen the BMW Groupsposition as one of
the worlds most attractive employers.
In addition to state and company pension
schemes, BMW AG offers employees in Germany
the chance, since 2002, to participate in two other
models . Employees can elect to convert a part of
their remuneration into pension benefits either
through a state subsidised scheme (the so-called
Riester model) or on the basis of a scheme which
is not state subsidised (a deferred remuneration
model). Since all employees can choose each
year whether and in which scheme they wish to
participate, pension benefits can be tailored to
the individual life and financial situation of each
employee.
Over one million cars manufactured
The BMW Group again increased automobile pro-
duction in 2002 and, with 1,090,258 vehicles manu-
factured, exceeded the previous year by 15.2%.This
includes 930,221 BMW cars (+2.9%) manufactured
in the Munich, Dingolfing, Regensburg, Spartanburg
and Rosslyn plants as well as in the Groups assem-
bly plants worldwide. In addition, 160,037 MINI brand
cars were manufactured at the Oxford plant where
the BMW Group used the flexible work-time models
during the first full year of production to meet the
strong demand.
The manufacturing network of the BMW Group
proved its continuing strength in 2002 with the pro-
duction launch of the BMW Z4, the MINI Cooper S
and the long wheelbase version of the BMW 7 Series
and the preparation for series production of the
Rolls-Royce Phantom and five new engines. The
production start of the new BMW Z4 deserves
particular mention, with the daily plant production
capacity reached in only three months.
The first-rate quality of the BMW Groups pro-
duction network was confirmed once again in June
2002 by the result of the J.D. Power and Associates
study. The award for the best car plant in Europe/
Africa, the Plant Award in Gold, went to the BMW
plant in Rosslyn, South Africa. In addition, the
Munich plant was awarded the Silver Plant Award,
following on from the Gold Award it had already
won in 2001.
New manufacturing facilities and headquarters
for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd. were completed
in 2002 in Goodwood, England. After an initial start-
up phase, this plant will have a capacity to manu-
facture more than 1,000 Rolls-Royce limousines
per year.
At the BMW plant at Spartanburg, production
capacity for the BMW X5 was increased by 16%,
and, for the first time, more than 100,000 vehicles
of this model were manufactured in a single year.
After preparation of the building site in Leipzig,
the ceremonial ground-breaking took place for the
new BMW plant at the beginning of May 2002.
Construction is progressing in line with plan so that
series production will commence, as planned, in
spring 2005.
In 2002, the BMW plant in Munich celebrated
50 years of automobile production. In 1952 only 49
cars of the famous Baroque Angel BMW 501 were
initially produced, together with 28,000 motorcycles.
Today, a workforce of more than 6,800 employees
manufactures around 208,000 cars each year.
Automobile production of the BMW Group by plant
in 1,000 units
Dingolfing
Regensburg
Munich
Oxford
Spartanburg
Rosslyn
254.6
12 3.4
16 0.0
55.6
208.6
288.0
High degree of employee satisfaction.
Number of apprentices increased again.
Production at full capacity utilisation.